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“Picks With Nick” CFB selections ATS Week 2
Selections (for entertainment purposes only) for Northwestern-Duke, TCU-Arkansas and Ohio State-Oklahoma included
By: Nick Camino
CLEVELAND – Time seems to be flying by as we are already into Week 2 of the college football season. During Week 1 of the college football season, “Picks With Nick” went 3-3 against the spread (ATS), for entertainment purposes only, of course.
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to last football season, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results weekly below with full transparency seeing how we stack up against the Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off a winning first season in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and NFL combined in 2016.
“Picks With Nick” will also feature a radio segment weekly on Newsradio WTAM 1100 discussing our selections.
Below is our full slate of college football featuring seven selections ATS for Week 2:
Game: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Duke Blue Devils
Where: Durham, North Carolina – Wallace Wade Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: ESPNU
Spread: Northwestern -3
Nick’s Pick: Over the last several seasons, Northwestern has started slow and we saw that again in Week 1 during their hard-fought victory over Nevada. The home team getting points here provides a unique opportunity to steal a win against the Vegas books. Nick’s Pick is Duke +3.
Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State Cyclones
Where: Ames, Iowa – Jack Trice Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Spread: Iowa -3
Nick’s Pick: This rivalry game is always close. The home team getting points gives the Cyclones the edge in this match up. Nick’s Pick is Iowa State +3.
Game: Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Where: University Park, Pennsylvania – Beaver Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Penn State -22
Nick’s Pick: This line is a complete overreaction from Week 1. Yes, Penn State throttled Akron and Pitt needed overtime to get past FCS opponent Youngstown State. That said, the Panthers won this game last year and are not 22 points worse, nor is James Franklin’s Nittany Lions 22 points better. Nick’s Pick is Pittsburgh +22.
Game: TCU Horned Frogs vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Where: Fayetteville, Arkansas – Razorback Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: CBS
Spread: TCU -3
Nick’s Pick: Top to bottom TCU is probably the better team and will end up with a higher ranking when the season is all said and done. But in Week 2, Arkansas is healthy and will have the home crowd behind them. Nick’s Pick is Arkansas +3.
Game: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Missouri Tigers
Where: Columbia, Missouri – Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Spread: Missouri -2.5
Nick’s Pick: The Gamecocks beat a very talented NC State team in Week 1. Had they not, this line would have been around -6 or -7. It’s a slight overreaction to those Week 1 results. Nick’s Pick will be Mizzou -2.5.
Game: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Where: Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Ohio State -7.5
Nick’s Pick: The Buckeyes delivered a beat-down in Norman a year ago, but this time around Baker Mayfield and the Sooners find a way to keep things much closer. Yes, even in Columbus. Nick’s Pick is Oklahoma +7.5.
Game: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Oregon State Beavers
Where: Corvallis, Oregon – Reser Stadium
Kickoff: 10:00 pm ET
TV: FS1
Spread: Oregon State -2.5
Nick’s Pick: Oregon State has looked awful the first two weeks of the season. However, going to Corvallis is never easy, hence the Beavers still being favorites to the up-and-coming “Row the Boat” Golden Gophers. Don’t overthink this game. Nick’s Pick is Oregon State -2.5.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 4-5
Record in NFL ATS to date: 0-0
Total record ATS to date: 4-5
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.